get one if you are new to espresso making/steaming, but get it cheaper!

Positive Product Points

good product for the price. the grinder is where you have to spend your money though. pulls a decent shot, asthetically not the ugliest machine. stainless steel parts. boilers heat up pretty fast

Negative Product Points

will not create microfoam without a new steam wand. noisy, cannot get inside it very easily to modify. only comes with pressurized portafilters

Detailed Commentary

great machine for a gift to an entry level espresso connoisseur. does pull a good shot but you have to get a non-pressurized portafilter(not too hard to find). doesn't create microfoam either unless you take off the wand but then the tip is too short to work with although if you really practice you can get decent foam. hard to find the replacement tip that will produce good foam, i've seen it on youtube but cant locate it. have had it for 3.5 years now and still runs strong. it did start smoking randomly when i turned it on a few times a few months ago and i thought it was going to die, i kept using it and it seems to be fine. was kinda hoping it would die so i would have an excuse for a rancilio silvia or something better

Buying Experience

got this as a gift and have been modifying as much as i can to work with what i got. obviously would buy a better machine, but this machine works for the price.